The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Dec. 2 in Fallujah, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV during security operations. They were assigned to the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry, Crookston, Minn.

Killed were:

Spc. Bryan T. McDonough, 22, of Maplewood, Minn.

Spc. Corey J. Rystad, 20, of Red Lake Falls, Minn.

For further information on this release, contact the Minnesota National Guard public affairs office at (651) 282-4684.